Another Zamboanga trader seized

BOLONG, Zamboanga City, Philippines – Kidnappers struck again and seized another trader here yesterday morning, just a day after security forces rescued an elderly Swiss-Filipino businessman and killed one of the suspects in a coastal village, authorities said.

The victim, identified as Vicente Barrios, 60, caretaker and corporate operator of the Dragon Marine Product, had come from his marine farm on Bisaya-Bisaya Island off the resort village of Bolong, 33 kilometers east of the city proper, when he was snatched.

Barrios’ abduction came barely a day after a combined police-military team rescued Swiss-born Filipino Charlie Rieth, who was held captive for 71 days.

Village chief Antonio Evangelista said five armed men on board on two pumpboats chased and fired shots at Barrios and his companion, pumpboat operator Raing Haruddin.

“When we were cornered, they fired shots that prompted me to jump overboard and swim for my safety,” Haruddin recounted.

Evangelista said the kidnappers were led by a certain Kamsa Asdanal. 

He cited information that Asdanal’s group was also targeting two other corporate operators of the marine farm, both Chinese nationals, and a Japanese national operating a piggery business in the village.

Evangelista said they have warned the foreigners to leave the area to thwart the kidnapping plot.

Senior Superintendent Edwin de Ocampo, city police chief, said an intelligence check revealed that Asdanal belongs to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front group based in Zamboanga Sibugay.

He said Asdanal’s group was also behind the abduction of retired Army soldier Benjamin Almonte last February.